Ayane’s late goal completes comeback in Women’s FA Cup

There was late drama in our first game of the New Year as Rosella Ayane’s goal in the sixth minute of added time saw us progress into the fifth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup at the expense of Sheffield United.

That completed a fantastic comeback in the final 25 minutes at Brisbane Road after we found ourselves two goals down, Sophie Haywood and Jess Sigsworth netting for the visitors, but Bethany England struck twice in the space of 11 minutes to bring us back level before Ayane claimed the victory deep into added time.

Robert Vilahamn made four changes to his starting 11 that faced Arsenal in our final game of 2023, handing defender Charlotte Grant her debut with Matilda Vinberg named on the bench, while midfielders Olga Ahtinen and Eveliina Summanen returned from injury and back into the matchday squad for the first time since November.

Barbora Votikova was called into action shortly after, getting down low for Jess Sigsworth’s effort before our best opportunity in the opening stages of the game, Ashleigh Neville flicking Celin Bizet’s corner into the centre of the box, Ramona Petzelberger with a looping header that forced Fran Stenson to tip it over the bar.

We were inches away from finding the equaliser just before the half-hour mark, Jess Naz’s left-footed effort struck the outside of the post after a lovely ball from Ashleigh Neville sent the forward through. The last action of the first half came from Bethany England, latching onto Molly Bartrip’s pass behind before blasting an effort over the bar.

However, seven minutes after the break, the visitors had doubled their lead, Ashley Hodson’s curling effort coming off the post and Sigsworth was there to head home on the rebound.

It was nearly an instant reply from us, though, as England’s cross picked out Naz completely free inside the box, but her effort was straight into the hands of Stenson.

Ellie Brazil couldn’t convert from a tight angle before Kit Graham sent a low driven effort wide as we continued to push for a way back into the game, and that finally prevailed on 69 minutes, Angharad James with clever pass into England and she finished clinically.

That lifted our momentum, with Ashleigh Neville and England seeing efforts go over the bar, before we were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes, Jess Naz putting Tara Bourne under pressure which resulted in her bringing down our number seven. England stepped up and calmly slotted into the bottom corner.

An effort from James stung the palms of Stenson as we searched for the winner before she denied Athinen. It needed a moment of quality to win the game, and that came in the final seconds of the additional six minutes.

Athinen sent a brilliant diagonal ball into Rosella Ayane, she took it down before lifting it over Stenson, sparking jubilant scenes and securing our progression into the next round of the competition, with the draw taking place on Monday 15 January at 7:30pm live on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club and also streamed on BBC iPlayer.

Match data

Goals: Spurs – England 69, 80 (pen), Ayane 90+6; Sheffield United – Haywood 13, Sigsworth 51.

Yellow cards: Spurs – Bartrip 90; Sheffield United – Newsham 75.

Referee: Laura Van Lier.

Venue: Brisbane Road.

Weather: Mostly cloudy, five degrees.